Exotics Flashcards
Which climates do rabbit dislike?
Hot and dry
What can cause gut hypomobility in rabbits?
Fear and stress
Two problems with house rabbits?
May not have enough UV or grazing
Which climates do guinea pigs need protection from?
Cold and damp
Which climate do chinchillas like?
Dry, cool
Which climates do chinchillas need protection from?
Damp and heat
Should chinchillas live alone or in a group?
Need friends
What material do chinchillas need in their dust bath?
Fine volcanic sand
What material isn’t appropriate for chinchilla housing?
Will eat through anything wooden
Which are the solitary hamsters?
Syrian
What groups do gerbils live in?
Tribal
Which times of day are gerbils awake?
Diurnal
What kind of climate do hamsters and gerbils like?
Dry
What three behaviours should hamsters and gerbils be able to do?
Forage, climb, burrow
What climate do rats like?
Cool and moist
What must birds be able to do in their cage by law?
Spread their wings
Why should perches vary in texture and diameter?
To avoid arthritic change
Which trees are best for bird perches?
Willow and fruit trees
Which kind of birds should be bathed?
Rainforest/river
How much light do tropical birds need all year?
10-12 hours
What climate do birds like?
Good humidity
Which kind of heat source to reptiles need?
Thermostatic external
Which are the only reptiles which don’t need a UVB source?
Snakes
How close to the basking area should the UVB source be?
20cm
How often should the UVB source be replace??
Annually
What is the problem with back wall heat pads?
Don’t give a temperature gradient
What condition can you see if a reptile gets too hot?
Enteritis
What do ceramic bulbs provide?
Heat but no light
What are two problems with ceramic bulbs?
Can’t tell if hot by looking, need wire around it
What is a problem with blue-red bulbs?
Don’t last as long
What are heat/light combined bulbs designed for?
Additional spot heating in very large enclosure
What can heat/light combined bulbs cause in home use?
Dehydration
For most species, how many times a day should you spray?
1-2
Why must reptiles have good ventilation?
To avoid mould
What kind of misting might some species like frogs need?
Automatic misting
What kind of climate do chameleons like?
Tropical
What kind of temperatures do chameleons like?
High daytime with dramatic drop at night
What kind of humidity do chameleons like?
High at night
Where do bearded dragons live?
HOT desert
What kind of variation in their climate do bearded dragons like?
Diurnal
What kind of UVB do bearded dragons like?
HIGH
What kind of heat do bearded dragons like?
Hot spot in day
When do snakes especially need a quiet, vibration free environment?
When feeding
What might snakes need over winter?
A cool rest period
What kind of vivarium can young terrapins live in?
Aqua-vivarium
Do young terrapins need light or UVB?
Both
Where is a good place for adult terrapins to live?
A garden pond
How much space to tortoises need in summer?
10m2 each
Why should you rotate tortoise grazing?
To avoid roundworm
What season must be extended in tortoises?
Summer - into Autumn and Spring
Where can you give tortoises a controlled short hibernation in the UK?
In the fridge
What is better than a vivarium for baby tortoises?
A tortoise table
What is a problem with moist skin?
Gets diseased easily
Do reptiles or amphibians get ill and die faster?
Amphibians
What happens to parasites in a moist environment?
Build up quickly
What should water be like in an amphibian tank?
Filtered and moving (to aid humidity)
What must ventilation be like for amphibians?
Very good
Can you mix amphibian species?
No
Why should you not use wooden vivaria for amphibians?
Water and high humidity
How much of a rabbit’s diet should hay make up?
Majority
What kind of vegetables can you give rabbits?
Green
Which rabbits require concentrates?
Growing and breeding
Which is the best rabbit food?
Extruded pellets - Burgess Super Excel and Supreme Selective
What is fibre, startch and Ca:P like in the best rabbit food?
Low starch, high fibre, correct Ca:P
What is Supreme “Russel Rabbit”?
Alfalfa-based muesli mix
What are cheap rabbit mixes mainly based on?
Flaked peas, flaked maize, rolled grains
What is wrong with cheap rabbit mixes?
Too high in carbs, low in fibre, incorrect Ca:P ratio
What is wrong with low fibre in rabbits?
Messes up gut flora, poor gut motility, non-caecotrophy
Which rabbits are Breeder pellets designed for?
Meat rabbits
How quickly can meat rabbits get to slaughter?
12 weeks
What are rabbit breeder pellets high in?
Energy and protein
What else to rabbit breeder pellets often contain?
Coccidiostat
What does too high carbs cause in rabbits?
Poor caecal flora, non-caecotrophy, soiled perineum
What can inadequate calcium cause in rabbits?
Osteodystrophy and dental disease
What can excess calcium cause in rabbits?
Sludge in bladder - calciuria
What is the ideal Ca:P ratio in rabbits?
1:1
Which food has the ideal Ca:P ratio in rabbits?
Grass
What is wrong with giving carrot tops to rabbits?
Too much Ca
What’s wrong with giving maize and peas to rabbits?
Too much P - osteodystrophy
What is the maximum concentrates rabbits should have?
2-3% of correct body weight
Why should you not give rabbits lettuce?
Narcotic
How long will it take to see vitamin C deficiency in rabbits?
14 days
How much can vitamin C requirement increase during growth, sickness etc?
2-3x
What happens if guinea pigs don’t get enough fibre?
Barbering
What kind of grass is a good source of vitamin C?
Actively growing
What happens to vitamin C levels once a vegetable is cut?
Decreases
What are Supreme Pet Foods “Gertie Guinea Pig” based on?
Alfalfa
How much vitamin C does Supreme Pet Foods “Gertie Guinea Pig” have?
250mg/kg
How many more times vitamin C does Burgess Super Guinea Pig have than Gertie Guinea Pig?
Three times
How much vitamin C does Burgess Super Guinea have?
1000mg/kg
What else is Burgess Super Guinea high in?
Fibre
What skeletal problems can lack of vitamin C cause in guinea pigs?
Joint swelling and pain, esp if young
What dental problems can lack of vitamin C cause in guinea pigs?
malocclusion secondary to scurvy, traps tongue
What three things can deactivate vitamin C in water?
Heat or sunlight, organic matter, contact with metal of water bottles
What is the maximum fat chinchillas can stand?
3%
What is vegetation like where chinchillas live?
Poor and fibrous
What treat can chinchillas have?
Hard vegetables and fruit, occasional sultanas and raisins
What do good quality chinchilla pellets look like?
Slim and hard
What do good quality chinchilla pellets contain?
Low fat, high vit C
What do poor quality chinchilla pellets look like?
Crumbly, cheap, high fat
What is wrong with Supreme Pet Food “Charlie Chinchilla”?
Allows selective feeding, not abrasive enough for good dental health
What vitamin C rate should chinchillas have?
Same as guinea pigs
What can hypocalcaemia cause in young chinchillas?
Fits
What can too much watery veg cause in chinchillas?
Colic/bloat
What skin problems can incorrect feeding cause in chinchillas?
Greasy fur and scaly skin
What are two other problems incorrect feeding can cause in chinchillas?
Fatty liver disease, paraphimosis
What should you not give to chinchillas as a sudden change in diet?
Fermentable foods
Which niche do Degus occupy?
Rabbit
What happens to Degus if fed an omnivore diet?
Get diabetes mellitus
What is a first sign of diabetes in Degus?
Cataracts
Which four species are naturally omnivorous?
Rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils
Which pellets can you give Degus?
Guinea pig
Which pellets should you not give Degus?
Gerbil or hamster
What are the problems with Supreme Pet Foods Rat, Hamster and Gerbil?
Selective feeding, produce obesity, not enough animal protein
Which small mammals can have live insects?
Gerbils and hamsters in glass-sided enclosures
What are the problems with cheap food for rats/mice/hamsters/gerbils?
Low in animal protein and EFAs, marginal calcium
What do laboratory animal pellets have in that makes them good but owners unwilling to feed?
Fishmeal
What’s the problem with complete extruded ferret foods?
Not as fun as normal prey, not as good for teeth as a carcase
What’s the problem with tinned cat food for ferrets?
Predisposes to dental disease
What is the only reliable tooth care for ferrets?
A carcase
What should you remove from a day-old chick before giving to a ferret? Why?
Yolk - contains avidin (an anti-B vitamin)
What disease is commonly seen in parrots due to too much fatty seeds?
Fatty liver disease
What are two essential amino acids for birds?
Lysine and methionine
Where are lysine and methionine only found?
Pulses, maize, animal problem
Which birds are neophobic?
All
Which are the only birds which can have more than 8% fat in the diet?
The big macaws - or those that live outside
Which birds eat entirely seeds?
NONE
How much fat do the big macaws need?
18%
How can you best provide fat in a birds diet?
large oil-rich nuts e.g. brazils, walnuts
Why are egg foods good for birds?
Lots of lysine and methionine, lots of protein
What are egg foods also known as?
Rearing foods
Which birds owners usually feed egg foods?
Those that breed and show small bird species
What are egg feed and seed mix and almost balanced diet for?
Finches/canaries, budgerigars, cockatiels
What kind of diets do softbill birds have?
Insectivorous
What are some softbill birds?
Thrushes, robins, starlings
What should the diet be low in for Mynahs?
Iron
Which kind of birds need more iodine than other species?
Budgies
What are two problems with in-water supplements for birds?
Very sweet so “bacterial soup” and birds don’t drink much anyway
What are millet sprays good for?
Getting sick birds to eat
What’s one problem with millet seeds?
Cause obesity in caged birds
What is the ideal budgie mix?
Trill (seed supplemented with egg food and iodine)
What is mainly in budgie mix?
Millet and canary seed
What are some green food that budgies can have?
Chickweed, plantain, dandelion, lettuce
Which mixes should cockatiels have?
Cockatiel or small parakeet
What can you give to cockatiels if they are overweight?
Budgie mix - has less fat-rich seeds
What is different about canary mix?
More fat rich as they need higher oil level
Why do canaries need a higher oil level?
Higher metabolic rate
What do you feed show canaries during a moult?
Colour food
What species does “parrot” include?
African greys, Amazons, cockatoos
How much animal protein do parrots each?
Some, from time to time
What is the maximum fat most parrots require in the diet?
8%
What are the only parrots that need more than 8% fat?
The large macaws
What does “parrot mix” mainly contain?
Sunflower seed and peanuts
Which spores can be found in parrot mix?
Aspergillus
How much fat does parrot mix have?
45-50%
What 6 things is parrot mix low in?
Fibre, calcium, EFAs, lysine, methionine, fat soluble vitamins
What’s the problem with complete extruded diets for parrots?
Not easy to convert them to these, boring, unvarying, low fibre
What can you give parrots for the essential amino acids?
Maize or pulses
What can you give parrots for carbohydrates?
Rice, cooked potatoes, pasta
What do you do to a parrot pulses mix before feeding?
Soak and cook
What is a disadvantage of feeding a pulses mix to parrots?
Time consuming
What is an advantage of feeding a pulses mix to parrots?
Cheap
Which two foods are toxic to parrots?
Chocolate and avocado
What does high salt cause in parrots?
Pruritis, feather picking
Can parrots have fermented milk products?
Yes
What is “tidy mix”?
Parrot mix with the husks removed
What is wrong with “parrot mix with fruit”?
Dried fruit has little nutritional value
What foods do some parrot care books prohibit?
Banana and pineapple
Which parrots can banana be a problem in?
Very young
Which parrots especially need a supplement?
Young, breeding, African Greys
What is the standard balanced supplement for parrots?
Nutrobal
What are the advantages to feeding yoghurt to parrots?
Gleaming feathers
Can parrots digest milk?
No
What do lorikeets eat?
Nectar +/- fruit
What kind of animal protein will Med tortoises opportunistically eat?
Snail/worm
What temperature is the soil where Med tortoises hibernate?
4-5 degrees
What is the soil like in the wild where tortoises live?
Calcium-rich, alkaline
What happens if you feed a tortoise the same food throughout the year?
Grows too fast
How much of the year should the tortoise be grazing?
7-8 months
How can you give tortoises extra calcium?
Cuttlefish or supplement on fruit
What are three foods you should not let a tortoise get hooked on?
Dog food, peas, beans
What happens if owners give tortoises too much protein?
Overgrown beaks and claws, liver disease
What supplementation do tortoises living in polytunnels need?
Vitamin A
What condition do obese tortoises get?
Fibrous osteodystrophy
Which age tortoises are prone to osteodystrophy?
Young
What do terrapins rarely eat in captivity?
Vegetation
What should you feed juvenile and adult terrapins on?
Pelleted foods
What can you also feed young terrapins?
Aquatic live foods
What happens if you feed terrapins red meat?
Osteodystrophy
What do leopard geckos eat?
Insects
When is the only time you should give mealworms to leopard geckos?
Calorie rush before breeding
What is the Ca:P ratio of mealworms?
1:22
What happens if you give mealworms to leopard geckos?
Osteodystrophy
What Ca:P ratio do leopard geckos need?
2:1
What is the Ca:P ratio of crickets and locusts?
0.8:1
After how long should you bin a tub of supplement?
3-4 months
What do iguanas eat?
Leaves, flowers, a little fruit
Which kind of UV do iguanas need?
VERY HIGH, full spectrum (rainforest canopy)
What is iguana growth like?
Slow
What should bearded dragons eat?
Green first, flowers, fruits, insects
How many times a week should bearded dragons have insects?
Twice per week
What happens if bearded dragons get too much insects?
Constipation
How many UV strips should bearded dragons have?
Two
Where does the Bosc monitor live?
North Africa
What do bosc monitors eat?
Carnivorous
Why do Bosc monitors end up being overfed?
Walk a long way in the wild, always hungry
What are four problems caused by obesity in Bosc monitors?
Sore feet, fatty liver, hypovitaminosis E, haemorrhagic GE
Why shouldn’t day old chicks be a significant part of a snakes diet?
Very low calcium, contain avidin unless the yolk sac is removed
What does frequency of snake feeding depend on?
Their size
How often are baby snakes fed?
3-7 days
How often are medium-sized snakes fed?
7-21 days
How often are big snakes fed?
Every 4-6 weeks
Why do snakes stop eating after coming home?
Stressed with noise and vibration
How much should you feed a snake in one sitting?
As much as it wants
How do you know when to feed a snake again?
When the last meal has passed out
How large can the prey you feed a snake be?
The widest diameter of the snake
Why should you not handle a snake after feeding?
Regurgitates
What are the six sizes of rats sold to feed snakes?
Pups, fluffs, weaners, small, medium, large
What are the five sizes of mice sold to feed snakes?
Pinkies, fluffs, small, medium, large
What colour mice should you try if a snake won’t feed?
Dark brown
Which are the only snakes that might need freshly killed prey?
Imported wild
What kind of food do ALL adult amphibians eat?
Carnivorous
What must the prey be doing for an amphibian to eat it?
Moving
Why can fish survive out of water for hours?
Die because of CO2 rise, not O2 lack
What are the dissolved gases in water?
Oxygen, nitrogen, ammonia and carbon dioxide
When can fish temperature be elevated?
For therapy/breeding
What is a problem with elevated fish temperature?
Lower dissolved oxygen partial pressure
When may fish temperature be lower?
Transportation
What is a problem with disturbed sediment in a fish tank?
Higher O2 requirement
What is a problem with super-saturation of gases?
Nitrogen - gas bubble dieases
What commensal can cause opportunistic infection in fish?
Aeromonas
What causes stress with fish in the Spring and Summer?
Large diurnal temperature changes
What are four methods of fish euthanasia?
Direct trauma, electrical stunning, clove oil, MS222 (benzocaine)
How should you transport a fish?
Double, thick polythene bags, thermal insulation, rigid container, 1/3 air/oxygen, sedatives
How is nitrate formed?
Ammonia to nitrite to nitrate
What’s a problem with under gravel filters?
Can clog
What’s a problem with excessive tank cleaning?
Inadequate bacterial presence
What is new tank disease?
Lack of bacterial presence
What is an advantage of lilies in a fish tank?
Shade/protection
What are three ways on controlling algae?
Mechanical, UV, herbivorous fish
What’s a problem with plants in a fish tank?
Can bring snails or parasites
What two things must water depth be sufficient for?
Overwintering and thermal buffering capacity
What’s a problem with high water flow?
Can exhaust delicate fish
What are the three stages of style in zoo enclosure?
Menagerie, living art galleries, experience oritented
What are the three cornerstones in zoos?
Education, conservation, entertainment/research
What does the European Zoos Directive say?
Sets standards
What does the zoo licensing act 1981 say?
Must provide well-adapted environment, vetcare and husbandry
What are SSSMZPs?
Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice
How do SSSMZPs categorise animals?
According to risk 1-3
What are five ways to quantify welfare?
Indicator behaviours, activity budgets, behaviour diversity, enclosure usage, physiological responses
Which two methods measure how much time is spent doing each behaviour?
Activity budgets and behavioural diversity
What does a spread of participation index do?
Splits the enclosure into zones and measures how much time animals spend in each
What do 0 and 1 in a spread of participation index mean?
0 = no bias, 1 = spend all time in one place
What four conditions must be in place for live feeding?
Allowed in exceptional surfaces and veterinary advice, requires ethical review, feeding must be observed, never in public view
In which species is diabetes a big problem?
Old World monkeys
What are seven ways of preventing flight in birds?
Small enclosure, feather clipping, overfeeding, tethering, brailling, pinioning, tendonectomy
What is pinioning?
Removing pinion joint so can’t grow primary feathers
